A West Midland police officer accused of kicking a handcuffed teenage suspect up to 15 times said the colleague making the accusations had earlier boasted of how she wanted to ‘grass’ on a fellow officer.

PC Daniel Wood denied kicking 17-year-old Shazeb Ali repeatedly in the head, shoulder and neck as the teen was arrested as part of a rape investigation.

Giving evidence he said accuser PC Sharon Cowhig had previously claimed to want to “bubble a cop” – meaning report them to senior officers.

Denying a charge of causing actual bodily harm against Mr Ali, who was then 17, PC Wood said his actions were in response to a violent prisoner.

Describing the arrest, which took place at Ali’s home on Bordesley Green East, Stechford, on August 21 2013, PC Wood said: “It was very very tense and confrontational, all the things you don’t want it to be, basically.

“He was strong and clearly resisting at that stage.”

PC Wood said two officers were scuffling with Ali, who was never charged, in the teen’s living room.

The officer said: “It was at this stage I kicked Ali to the shoulder, I did this to get the handcuffs on him because I felt it was the only way I felt I could apply the handcuffs.